Tech fairs offer glimpse into robotic future More than 3,200 companies from over 20 countries and regions are showcasing their latest innovations at the 45th Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and the 28th electronicAsia, which opened yesterday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the four-day event is expected to draw more than 60,000 visitors. Exhibitors include companies from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as well as participants from across Asia, Europe, and North America. The council had also arranged for 120 buyer delegations from 61 countries and regions to attend the fairs for sourcing and procurement. Among the highlights are nearly 70 robots on display. Shenzhen-based Digital Huaxia showcased an intelligent robot capable of multimodal interaction, featuring a face that can imitate 22 distinct human expressions. Designed for commercial reception roles in settings such as banks and shopping malls, the robot incorporates developed “emotional intelligence” and “affective” models to enable more natural human-robot interaction. Its customizable body can walk on two legs, grasp objects like cups and documents, and perform dances. Hangzhou company Ascentiz exhibited a modular exoskeleton. Using sensors that read the wearer's movements, the device provides additional power assistance to hip and knee joints, reportedly improving walking efficiency by 35 percent. A Shanghai tech firm presented a coffee robot capable of creating 3D-printed latte art. The machine can brew a cup of coffee and complete the design in about 50 seconds, claimed to save 90 percent in time and labor costs. Speaking on global trade tensions, HKTDC Chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang said that while the future remains unpredictable, companies cannot rely on one or two markets and must diversify regardless of tariff developments. His comments followed US President Donald Trump's announcement on October 10 of raising total levies to 155 percent, set to take effect next month in response to China's new controls on rare earth exports. However, Hong Kong Shippers’ Council chairman Willy Lin Sun-mo said the effect may be limited. He explained that goods for the upcoming Thanksgiving season in the United States had already been shipped, easing immediate worries. Lin also pointed out that over the past decade, most manufacturing orders for the US market have shifted to factories in Southeast Asia and India, suggesting the new tariffs may not be as damaging as feared. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/314036/ (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: The Standard